Failure made Easy

Ever get to the place where you 'failed' at something and didn't know how you got there? The reality of not meeting a goal or dream we have desired can be devastating. In spite of all the positive spin put on disappointment it's not always easy to swallow the 'lessons' we are meant to learn in failures. No one NEVER fails in life. We all have potential for both success and failure in every major venture or undertaking we take on in life. In this brief blog I want to use sports as a metaphor for describing three key areas you can address to reduce failure in your life. All three of the metaphors are actually taken from the sport of track which I competed in for several years... let's get started.

1. D.N.S. , these initials stand for did not start. The most obvious way to ensure you fail is to just plain NOT SHOW UP. This past week the American record holder for the mile and 1500 meters withdrew from the final in the national championship. When he made the decision to withdraw from the race he ensured failure. Where risk is involved we often pull back and choose not to 'compete' in areas of our life: relationships, career, sport, community service etc.... We can never achieve anything of significance when we choose to not compete.... not to participate. Sometimes the most vociferous critics are those who do so from the sidelines of spectators. Better to risk failure by making a great effort as opposed to ensuring failure by never lining up to participate in life.

2. D. N. F. , these initials stand for did not finish. The world is full of noble beginners... but bereft of many finishers. The ability to stand up under the assaults of self doubt, fatigue, depression, disappointment and fear separates the champion from the amateur. Many of the most talented athletes, business people, leaders and entrepreneurs start off like blazing stars only to wind up in the ash heap of never finishing what they began. Just to make a commitment to finish what is begun ensures that the world will rise up and call you blessed. Once while studying in London I met the Director of Ophthalmology for the World Health organization. I told of him of my dream/vision to help establish an eye hospital in northern Pakistan. He told me it was a noble and needed work. It was indeed exactly the type of project that his organization would like to support financially. But alas he was firmly aware that so many similar projects around the world are brilliant failures. His counsel? Start with what you have.... work hard..... and if in two years you are still functional his organization would fund us generously. We followed his advice and Gilgit eye hospital goes on providing eye care to thousands every year in N. Pakistan.

3. D.Q. these initials stand for disqualified. In athletics there are fixed rules of competition which nevertheless are frequently violated by those who want to win at any cost. At times they are caught in their deceit and promptly eliminated from obtaining the prize they so desperately sought. There are all sorts of boundaries and rules in life. But the immoral participant in relationships, business, sport and life itself seeks to play by its own set of rules. Nevertheless, eventually cheaters are revealed and exposed for who they are: frauds. We must understand that victory at "any cost" is not a true win. We must have honor and morality at the center of triumphs and our failures. Better to be true to self than appear to be something we are not.

It's easy to fail. Too easy. Choose to examine your heart today and help ensure you make the right choices that are so important to find success in life.

Jim